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Charles Darwin and the Racing Asparagus

Some of science's great ideas were created in homespun ways. To test his ideas on evolution, Charles Darwin and his butler dropped asparagus into a tub. Darwin's oldest son studied dead pigeons by letting them float upside down in a bowl.

Charles Darwin and the Racing Asparagus

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Oboist Liang Wang: His Reeds Come First

At 26, Liang Wang is new on the job as principal oboe with the New York Philharmonic. He makes his own reeds, spending hours each day hand-crafting the essential equipment with incredible precision.

Oboist Liang Wang: His Reeds Come First

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A Biologist's Listening Guide to Bacteria

Every young scientist dreams of doing an experiment that changes the world. A remarkable biologist at Princeton University has done just that. Bonnie Bassler's discovery about how bacteria talk to one another has led to a whole new field of research -- and maybe someday drugs that would be effective against all bacteria.

A Biologist's Listening Guide to Bacteria

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Law Professor Beats the Odds in Detainee Case

One man has taken on President Bush's handling of detainees and won. Neal Katyal won the historic case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld at the Supreme Court. Katyal argued that the court should intervene in the military tribunals set up by the president to try accused war criminals at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Law Professor Beats the Odds in Detainee Case

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Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure?

Robert Sapolsky, a distinguished neuroscientist in his 40s, had a young assistant who played different music every day, from Sonic Youth to Minnie Pearl. That made Sapolsky crazy -- and curious about why his aging ears still crave the music he loved in college. Is there a certain age when the typical American passes from the novelty stage to utter predictability?

Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure?

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Christenberry Photos Capture the Changing South

William Christenberry grew up in Hale County, Ala. For more than 40 years, he has returned there each summer, revisiting the same locations to document the passage of time.

Christenberry Photos Capture the Changing South

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Going Binocular: Susan's First Snowfall

Susan Barry was born with crossed eyes. Shortly after her second birthday, she had a surgery to treat them. But what she didn't know until decades later was how differently she still saw the world. A type of physical therapy for the eyes has changed all of that.

Going Binocular: Susan's First Snowfall

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Health Cuts Create Dilemma for Tennessee's Poor

New limits on Tennessee's health coverage for the poor has created a painful dilemma for many. If you have restricted insurance, but several chronic illnesses, as Linda Warner does, how do you choose which one to treat?

Health Cuts Create Dilemma for Tennessee's Poor

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Life After Foster Care: A Tale of Two Boys

In 1994, Tovan Love and Troy Saunders were teens at a group home in Washington, D.C. They were filled with optimism about the future. Twelve years later, we report on what happened to the young men -- and their dreams.

Life After Foster Care: A Tale of Two Boys

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A Manicure Leads to a Literary Friendship

Writer Tony Platt stopped in Baltimore for a manicure and found a poet. Jael Freedman works at a spa and keeps her poems in her head. Together, they tell the story of a chance encounter that turned into a literary meeting of the minds.

A Manicure Leads to a Literary Friendship

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Teens Turn 'Repeller' into Adult-Proof Ringtone

Shopkeepers in the United Kingdom have been using the ultasonic Mosquito teen repellent to stop teenage loitering. But now, teens are using the high-pitch frequency that most adults can't hear as a text message alert while they're in class -- where they're not supposed to be using their cellphones.

Teens Turn 'Repeller' into Adult-Proof Ringtone

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Opinion

Circle of Events: A New Kidney, a New Life

Independent producer Matt Holzman underwent a kidney transplant operation a decade ago. A few days after his operation, he discovered and kept all the messages concerning his kidney. He uses the messages to paint a tale of how the operation that saved his life came about.

Circle of Events: A New Kidney, a New Life

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